Improved Log(gf) Values for Lines of Ti I and Abundance Determinations in the Photospheres of the Sun and Metal-Poor Star HD 84937 (Accurate Transition Probabilities for Ti I)

New atomic transition probability measurements for 948 lines of Ti I are reported. Branching fractions from Fourier transform spectra and from spectra recorded using a 3 m echelle spectrometer are combined with published radiative lifetimes from laser-induced fluorescence measurements to determine these transition probabilities. Generally good agreement is found in comparisons to the NIST Atomic Spectra Database. The new Ti I data are applied to re-determine the Ti abundance in the photospheres of the Sun and metal-poor star HD 84937 using many lines covering a range of wavelength and excitation potential to explore possible non-local thermal equilibrium effects. The variation of relative Ti/Fe abundance with metallicity in metal-poor stars observed in earlier studies is supported in this study.NSF AST-1211055, AST-0908978, AST-1211585NSF REU grant AST-1004881ESO Science Archive Facility 073.D-0024, 266.D-5655NASA NAS 5-26555Astronom

Streptococcus cristatus bacteremia in a patient with poor oral hygiene: a case report

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus cristatus is a member of the Mitis streptococcus group. Like other members of this group, it resides on mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity. However, little is known about its ability to cause disease as there are only a handful of cases in the literature. Two of these cases involved infective endocarditis with significant complications. However, these cases involved additional microbes, limiting the inferences about the pathogenicity of Streptococcus cristatus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old African American male with end-stage cryptogenic cirrhosis and ascites presented with fatigue and confusion. A paracentesis was negative for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, but two separate blood cultures grew Streptococcus cristatus. Our patient had a history of dental caries and poor oral hygiene, which were likely the source of the infection. Echocardiograms revealed new aortic regurgitation, indicating possible endocarditis per the Modified Duke Criteria. However, since his clinical picture and cardiac function were reassuring, we elected against treatment for infective endocarditis. He was treated for bacteremia with a 2-week course of cephalosporins consisting of 8 days of ceftriaxone, transitioning to cefpodoxime after discharge. Despite having end-stage liver disease, our patient did not experience any significant complications from the infection. CONCLUSION: A patient with end-stage cirrhosis and poor oral hygiene developed bacteremia with an oral bacterium called Streptococcus cristatus. Unlike previous cases in literature, our patient did not meet criteria for a definitive diagnosis of infective endocarditis, and he experienced no other complications from the infection. This suggests coinfectants may have been primarily responsible for the severe cardiac sequelae in prior cases, whereas isolated Streptococcus cristatus infection may be relatively mild

Streptococcus cristatus – an oral bacterium causing a case of mild bacteremia and “possible endocarditis”

Streptococcus cristatus is a member of the Mitis streptococcus group. Like other members of this group, it resides in mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity but rarely causes disease. We present a case of S. cristatus bacteremia and “possible endocarditis” (per the modified Duke criteria) in a 59-year-old male suffering from end- stage cryptogenic cirrhosis. To date, it is the fifth reported case of disease caused by the microbe, and the first adult case in which S. cristatus was the sole microbe identified. Our patient had a history of dental caries and poor dentition, which were likely the source of the infection. Despite having end-stage liver disease, our patient did not suffer serious complications from the infection, which contradicts previous cases that resulted in severe endocarditis. Our patient was successfully treated with ceftriaxone, whereas the only other case involving ceftriaxone resulted in treatment failure

Correlation of experimental and finite element modal analysis of the PHALANX M61A1 Close-In Weapon System

The M6 1 Al gatling gun is the principal component of the PHALANX close-In Weapons System (CIWS), which provides U.S. Navy surface ships with a final defense against anti-ship cruise missiles. The objectives of this study are to provide an experimental set of modal parameters and to validate a new finite-element model (FEM) of the gun. Swept sine frequency response measurements on an actual PHALANX gun were conducted in the laboratory to obtain a complete set of modal parameters (frequency, amplitude, mode shapes). The finite-element model was couelated using the experimental modal frequencies as a reference. This result was obtained by adjusting stiffnesses in the three bearing assemblies within the gun: ball-bearing, needle bearing and ball joint. The investigation was conducted with and without the production muzzle restraint currently used in the fleet. Good agreement between the measured and computed FEM modal parameters was found for the first three modes in both the horizontal and vertical directions for the 5 to 125 Hz frequency range of interest. With the production muzzle restraint installed, agreement between the experimental and finite-element results was poor. It is suspected that 'play' in the actual restraint mounting system is present, which is not modeled by the FEM. Recommendations are made for follow-on studies. (MM)http://archive.org/details/correlationofexp109457451U.S. Navy (U.S.N.) authors

Effectiveness and feasibility of a software tool to help patients communicate with doctors about problems they face with their medication regimen (EMPATHy): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Low-income, Mexican-American patients with diabetes exhibit high rates of medication nonadherence, poor blood sugar control and serious complications, and often have difficulty communicating their concerns about the medication regimen to physicians. Interventions led by community health workers, non-professional community members who are trained to work with patients to improve engagement and communication during the medical visit, have had mixed success in improving outcomes. The primary objective of this project is to pilot test a prototype software toolkit called “EMPATHy” that a community health worker can administer to help patients identify the most important barriers to adherence that they face and discuss these barriers with their doctor. METHODS/DESIGN: The EMPATHy toolkit will be piloted in an ongoing intervention (Coached Care) in which community health workers are trained to be “coaches” to meet with patients before the medical visit and help them prepare a list of important questions for the doctor. A total of 190 Mexican-American patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes will be recruited from December 2014 through June 2015 and will be randomly assigned to complete either a single Coached Care intervention visit with no software tools or a Coached Care visit incorporating the EMPATHy software toolkit. The primary endpoints are (1) the development of a “contextualized plan of care” (i.e., a plan of care that addresses a barrier to medication adherence in the patient’s daily life) with the doctor, determined from an audio recording of the medical visit, and (2) attainment of a concrete behavioral goal set during the intervention session, assessed in a 2-week follow-up phone call to the patient. The statistical analysis will include logistic regression models and is powered to detect a 50% increase in the primary endpoints. DISCUSSION: The study will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of a software tool to help patients communicate with doctors about problems they face with their medications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02324036 Registered 16 December 2014